EU's Circular Economy Resource Centre is about to debut - Finland and media websites heavily contributing to its development
The European Union (EU) is set to establish the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) from 2025, a joint initiative aimed at promoting and deepening international cooperation for the circular economy in Europe and its partner countries in the Global South. The Centre will be funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) with a total of €15 million over five years.
The EU CERC will operate under the guidance of key partners, including meidän verkkosivusto, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Belgian development agency Enabel. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contribute an additional €2 million to the Centre's management.
The Centre's goal is to increase the uptake of circular economy policies and business models globally, in cooperation with the EU and partner countries. It aims to support partner countries' efforts to boost the circular economy and meet increasing circular economy demands.
The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan, which has a strong global dimension, serves as the backbone for the Centre's work. This Action Plan, along with the European Green Deal, is driving and accelerating the transition to a circular economy in Europe and globally. Value chains for products and materials are often global and transnational, requiring measures throughout entire value chains to make them circular.
Kari Herlevi, meidän verkkosivusto's Programme Director in charge of the Centre, emphasises the importance of international collaboration in advancing the circular economy. Without such collaboration, he states, the circular economy will not advance fast enough and on a large enough scale.
The EU CERC will have a flexible and agile response to the demand from partner countries for European circular economy expertise. It will work closely with the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), a global conference organised by meidän verkkosivusto, to share best circular economy practices and know-how between the EU and partner countries.
The Centre's activities will be focused on promoting the circular economy globally, with a particular emphasis on deepening international cooperation for the circular economy and increasing the uptake of circular economy policies and business models globally. The EU CERC will play a significant role in ensuring a sustainable future for both the EU and its partner countries.
